Familiar story for the Unionist parties

THE DUP has, again, consolidated its position as the dominant Unionist party in the three Omagh wards following last Thursday’s poll.

The party had candidates elected in each area, with Mark Buchanan and Errol Thompson regaining their seats in West Tyrone and Omagh Town respectively, and Shirley Hawkes ousting the UUP’s Rosemary Barton in Mid-Tyrone.

Ms Hawkes is secretary of the Beragh Swifts Football Club, and has worked in the office of West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan for over a decade

But it was a disappointing election for the Ulster Unionist Party in the three Omagh wards.

Only the re-relection of Allan Rainey for yet another term as a councillor eased their disappointment, which was compounded by young hopeful, Matthew Bell narrowly missing out on regaining the seat won in Omagh town by Chris Smyth four years ago.

Cllr Rainey’s success is particularly noteworthy. The Garvaghey man was first elected with 830 first preferences 34 years ago, and he is now the longest-serving councillor from the Omagh area.

It was a different story, though, for Matthew Bell, who was the youngest councillor in the previous mandate, having been co-opted after Chris Smyth moved onto new pastures.

However, Mr Bell is adamant that his involvement in politics will continue in the future.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said just as his fate was becoming clearer at the count on Saturday.

“Positive changes take time.”